Walkin’ on Montvale
Published on December 11th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - A concerned group of Mountain View Drive residents are seeing their concerns transform into results as both a crosswalk and pedestrian traffic light are being discussed as options for a busy stretch of Montvale Ave.
Dolly Harrington, a resident of the Mountain View Drive apartment buildings, has penned a letter to the Stoneham Board of Selectmen in October to request that action be taken on Montvale Ave.
Harrington, and a group of concerned neighbors, live across the street from the Montvale Ave. shopping plaza, and wanted a safer way to conduct their shopping excursions.
“Because of the steady flow of traffic, crossing the street is treacherous at best, but it is particularly dangerous for the elderly,” wrote Harrington. “It would seem that by installing lights and/or a crosswalk, these dangers would be greatly reduced.”
Safety Officer Larry Rotondi compiled various traffic data from the area during weekends in both October and November, and the studies yielded predictable results. During 24 hours spans on a pair of Saturdays (October 26 and November 9), there were roughly 14,000 car trips during each of those days. In half of the days surveyed, the average speed of a car travelling down Montvale Ave. was either at or above the 30 mph posted speed limit (30 mph, 31 mph and 31.1 mph). In each of the instances, though, less than 10 percent of the cars were travelling faster than 35 mph.
“The one interesting thing about the survey is that it was taken where the Stoneham Bank building is, and is after commuters have already climbed the incline on Montvale Ave.”
Rotondi and Stoneham Police Chief Gregory O’Keefe met to discuss the area, and recommended that, budget willing, both a crosswalk and pedestrian street light would be appropriate.
The Board of Selectmen voted several weeks ago to approve the placement of a crosswalk near the entrance to Lindenwood Cemetery that would allow pedestrians safe access to the shopping plaza.
“The folks will have to walk down the hill to get to the crosswalk, but I don’t think that’s going to discourage anybody too much,” said Stoneham Selectman Cosmo Ciccarello.
According to Ciccarello, town officials are also looking at ways to finance a pedestrian light for the very same area. The light would only be activated when people wished to cross Montvale Ave.
According to estimates, the price for a pedestrian light has been quoted in a range from $6,000 to $15,000, but Ciccarello had already begun crafting a financial plan.
“We received $1,000 from Walgreens at the last meeting that we can put toward the light,” said Ciccarello. “We also know that the owners of the shopping plaza will be coming before us for a site plan review.”
“I think it’s only natural that those people would want to help pay for something that is going to protect their customers,” added Ciccarello, who didn’t know why the shopping plaza would be conducting a site plan review with the Selectmen.
Harrington, a 70 year-old Stoneham resident, aired her concerns to help protect her fellow senior citizens for several reasons. According to Harrington, the traffic coming out of the shopping center is confusing because of the chaotic egress and entry spaces, and the problems are compounded by the high speeds of cars exiting from the nearby Route 93 exit.
Harrington collected 100 signatures in her quest for safety, and was aided by residents of the two neighboring buildings at Tambone Apartments.
Rotondi wouldn’t specify where a pedestrian light might go, but didn’t think that a crosswalk or light signal would be appropriate at the top of the Montvale Ave. incline.
“I think it’s better to move both a light or a crosswalk a little farther down the street,” said Rotondi. “I’d hate to see trucks being stopped by a pedestrian light on an icy road. The trucks would get stuck all the time, and, besides, there aren’t really good sight lines just outside their apartment.
Ciccarello couldn’t give a specific date when the Montvale shopping plaza owners would appear before the Board, but truly hoped that he could interest them in footing the bill to erect the light.
“I really feel bad for them, and want to help them out,” said Ciccarello.
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